Report | Demetrious Johnson vs Henry Cejudo 2 close to finalization for UFC 227

MMA fans were hopeful that we would be getting both champions, TJ Dillashaw and Demetrious Johnson at UFC 227 in Los Angeles on August 4th. And it looks like we very well might be…they just won’t be going against each other.

Negotiations were underway for a potential super fight between the flyweight and bantamweight champions, Johnson and Dillashaw but according to Johnson’s manager, despite both accepting their offers, Dillashaw was given a new contract that resulted in him rematching Cody Garbrandt in UFC 227’s main event.

Ariel Helwani now reports that Johnson is likely to be rematching his old foe, Henry Cejudo.

For those hoping for a fresh matchup, Jussier Formiga’s name has definitely come up for DJ, I’m told. Cejudo was just the top choice after the Dillashaw fight didn’t materialize. Again, not done yet but that’s the fight all the parties want for 8/4. Just a couple small hurdles.

— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) June 6, 2018

UFC is close to finalizing Demetrious Johnson vs Henry Cejudo 2 for UFC 227 in LA on August 4, sources say. Not officially signed yet but very much moving in that direction.

For those hoping for a fresh matchup, Jussier Formiga’s name has definitely come up for DJ, I’m told. Cejudo was just the top choice after the Dillashaw fight didn’t materialize. Again, not done yet but that’s the fight all the parties want for 8/4. Just a couple small hurdles.

Rumors have been floating around about this being the next fight for both Johnson and Cejudo since Cejudo’s manager said in February that the fight would happen in the Summer. The former Olympic gold medalist in wrestling, Cejudo has since poked at Johnson on Twitter telling him he’ll “kill the mouse” and stated shortly after that if he doesn’t get Johnson and Joseph Benavidez wins at UFC 225 this Saturday that he will rematch with Benavidez for an interim title.

Johnson and Cejudo first fought in 2016 at UFC 197 when Johnson defeated Cejudo via first-round TKO. Each has fought three times since then with Johnson going 3-0 and Cejudo 2-1 but showing huge improvements in his game and even finishing Wilson Reis quicker than Johnson did.

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 6/6/2018